The Key Elements of the Nazi Party

The Key Elements of the Nazi Party: Anti-Semitism

1) Anti-Semitism - The Jews were the 'scapegoats' blamed for the misfortune (i.e. deteriorating economic conditions) that Germany suffered after the First World War. This Nazi hatred also extended to all ethnic minorities, homosexuals, the mentally and physically disabled, gypsies and the homeless and vagrants. They were viewed as weakening the society and undermining the supposed Aryan supremacy.

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The Key Elements of the Nazi Party: Communism

2) Anti-Communism: Communism was seen as the greatest threat to the Nazis' ideals. The far-right party objected strongly to the far-left movement for a number of reasons:

1) There was a fear that a revolution similar to that which occurred in Russia in 1917 would happen in Germany.

2) There had been a failed and very violent Communist takeover in Bavaria which involved much bloodshed. This was met with a forceful right-wing reaction; the individuals that fought the communists would later form the core of Hitler's SA.

Hitler was able to link his hatred of both Jews and Communists due to the fact that Karl Marx, the man accredited with the creation of Communism, was himself a Jew

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The Key Elements of the Nazi Party: The German/Ary

3) The Aryan Supremacy: Hitler believed that Germany was the superior human race and was therefore destined to rule over all of Eastern Europe. The 1936 Berlin Olympics is one example of how far Hitler would go to prove this; he wished to display the apparent dominance of German athletes as a testament to their superiority.

However, in order to attain the purest society, Hitler believed he would have to eradicate "the weak" and strengthen the Aryan family. He did this by supporting families and encouraging women to quit their jobs and have many children.

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The Key Elements of the Nazi Party: Anti-Treaty of

4) Anti-Treaty of Versailles: After the culmination of the First World War and the signing of the Armistice, a treaty was signed in which Germany was forced to shoulder all blame for the outbreak of war. This was the Treaty of Versailles.

In order to attone for their purported crimes, the treaty bound Germany in a number of respects. For example:

- Germany was forced to forfeit 10% of her land
- Germany's army was restricted to 100,000 men
- Germany was prohibited from having an air force
- Germany was forced to pay reparations to the Allied Powers

Hitler himself had fought in the First World War and, like many soldiers, felt betrayed by the government that had agreed to the treaty. Hitler viewed these actions as signs of cowardice and therefore sought to usurp the conditions of the treaty.